1[intransitive,transitive]to form an opinion about something without knowing all the details or factsspeculate (about/on/as to something)We all speculated about the reasons for her resignation.They were all speculating as to the identity of the stranger.speculate why, how, etc…It is useless to speculate why he did it.speculate that…We can speculate that the stone circles were used in some sort of pagan ceremony.Express YourselfSpeculatingIn some exams, you have to talk about what you can see in a picture and speculate about the situation or a wider issue prompted by the picture. These are ways of saying what you think might be the case:I think it's likely that these people know each other.I imagine she's his wife.They might/​may/​could be related.(British Englishorformal,North American English)I would think/​imagine/​guess they've been waiting for some time.(British English)I guess that the car has broken down.(North American English)I think this has probably happened before.It looks to me as though the woman is very angry.Perhaps/​Probably/​Possibly/​It may be that/​Maybe there has been an accident.(British Englishorformal,North American English)Synonymsphotograph picturephotoshotsnapshot/​snapprintThese are all words for a picture that has been made using a camera.photograph a picture that has been made using a camera:a photograph of the houseCan I take a photograph?picture a photograph:We had our picture taken in front of the hotel.photo a photograph:a passport photophotograph, picture or photo?Photograph is slightly more formal and photo is slightly less formal. Picture is used especially in the context of photographs in newspapers, magazines and books.shot a photograph:I tried to get a shot of him in the water.Shot often places more emphasis on the process of taking the photograph, rather than the finished picture.snapshot/​snap an informal photograph that is taken quickly, and not by a professional photographer:holiday snapsprint a copy of a photograph that is produced from film or from a digital camera:a set of printsPatterns a colour photograph/​picture/​photo/​snap/​print to take a photograph/​picture/​photo/​shot/​snapshot

2[intransitive]speculate (in/on something)to buy goods, property, shares, etc., hoping to make a profit when you sell them, but with the risk of losing moneyHe likes to speculate on the stock market.

Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latinspeculat-

‘observed from a vantage point’

, from the verb speculari, from specula

‘watchtower’

, from specere

‘to look’

.Extra examplesCommentators are openly speculating on whether the accusation is false.He refused to speculate on her reasons for leaving.It is idle to speculate what the consequences would have been.It would be premature to speculate as to the outcome at this stage.It would seem entirely reasonable to speculate that tribal loyalties influenced the outcome of the election.The British press speculated wildly about his disappearance.There was no point in speculating about the possibility of them getting back together.We can only speculate as to this man’s identity.Everyone speculated wildly about the reasons for her resignation.I’m not going to speculate on her reasons for leaving.It’s interesting to speculate whether they really did believe in witchcraft.It’s useless to speculate why he did it.They could only speculate as to the identity of the stranger.We can speculate that the stone circles were used in some kind of religious ceremony.